CHARGE OF THEFT

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 126, 1 May 1925, Page 5

CHARGE OF THEFT

CONFIDENCE TRICK ALLEGED, ' : ACCUSED COMMITTED FOB TRIAL. that he had beet asked to go to the Esplanade to assist at a,,horse sale, that he had there been invited to participate in a game of cards, and that fie had finally been robbed, were made by Stanley Gibson, otie-timo farmer of Taumarunui, but now of Obristohuroh, at the Police Court this morning, when Denholm Gillespie, alias John Harris, a woll-droesed young man, was charged on remand with tho theft of £73. Accused, it is alleged, was one of a party of three who had worked together, Following the occurrence smart work by Sergeant Power saw the arrest of Robert Howden, who, it was alleged, was tha man who took Gibson to tho Esplanade, but the other two men stated to bo implicated left the town. However, in Sydney recently, Gillespie was arrested for drunkenness and it was then found that he was wanted by the New Zealand police in connection with the charge laid by Gibson. Accused was deported from Australia and was arrested at Wellington on Tuesday by Detective Russell, of Palmerston North, and n Wellington detective. Howdon was charged at tha Magistrate’s Court on March 12 and, pleading not guilty, was committed for trial at the local sittings of the Supreme Court, which commence on Tuesday. Messrs C. F. Spooner atid W. G. Ash* worth, J'd.P., were oti t)i6 Bench •whit** Deteqtive-Sei'geant Quirke conducted the case for the police. Aooused was not represented by counsel. EVIDENCE OF COMPLAINANT.

Evidence was given by Gibson to the effect that lie had arrived in Palmerston North from Taumarunui at 6.40 a.m. on February 24 by the Limited express, and that he had at that time about £BO in his possession, of whioh £73 was in his wallet. Shortly after noon on the same day witness was on the railway station making enquiries about the departure of tho Napier express. Howden was near-by when witness was getting information, and could have heard what was said. He a few minutes iater approached witness stating that ho lind come from Marton that morning and also intended to travel by the Napier express to Wellington. To fill in the time beiore the train went Howden suggested that witness should come with him and assist in judging whether he should buy a horse from a man named Redfern, Ilovw den stating that he was not a very good judge of horses. They then, at the latter's direction, proceeded to an hotel corner, wheTe Howden asked a fair man, who accosted them, the way to Redfern’s properly. The man said that he was going right past the property and would be pleased to have the two of them accompany him. They then proceeded at a fast walking pace to the Esplanade, where Howden said that witness and ihe other rnan had made the pace very wartn and he desired to sit down for a few minutes to have a rest. Witnoss agreed and th?y sat down, witness then asking how far on was tho property. The fair man had replied that if they remained a little longer, it might bo possiblo that Redfern would put in an appear ince. Two or three minutes later another man, the present accused, came along. Ho appeared to be drunk or acting so, and said that he had been at the Esplanade the day before and had been “taken down” at cards for £2OO. INVITATION TO GAME OF CARDS, Accused produced three cards and said that ho would illustrate how he was “taken down.” He then took a lot of money from Ids hip pocket and invited the others to a gamo of cards. Witness absolutely refused to play, and said to Howden and the fair man that it was not sufe for a drunken man to be wandering about with so much money in hia possession when there was a chance that ho might meet the man who had robbed him on tho previous day. Witness suggested that the man should be protected by being taken to the police. Accused did pot seem inclined to go towards tho town; „o witness pulled out his wallet and offered to give him £2 if he would agree to their request. He showed the money and accused snatched the whole ot the £73 in the wallet. The fair man then grabbed accuse*! round the shoulders, and the latter cried out: “Help, help; I am being robbed.” Witness turned to the lair man and told him to let go otherwise he would be rendering himself liable to an assault charge. Asked by one of the men about the money which was in accused’s possession, witness replied that it would be safe there until they got to a policeman, when witnoss could easily recover it. One of the men then suggested that they should make themselves scarce, as they might get into trouble if they stopped, but witness did not agree to this, us accused had his money. Hie next thing that happened was that accused and the man who had grabbed him made off in the direction of the river. Howden went in the direction of Fitzherbert street, but later caine back for his coat, which he had apparently forgotten in his hurry. This obtained, he made off at a faster pace than before. While tho fair man had been holding accused, one of the Esplanade gardeners nad approached and had witnessed portion of the occurrence. Ha had disappeared and later had returned, stating that ho had rung up for the police. Witness had waited until their .arrival. Later in the afternoon lie had picked out Howden without any hesitation from a group of men at the police station. From what had happened witness would not now think that the three men were strangers to each other. There was no doubt in witness’s mind that the present accused was the man who had snatched the money. Asked if he wished to question witness, accused replied: “I will leave the questions to Mr Sievwright.” GARDENERS’ EVIDENCE

A. L. Goldfinch, gardener in the employ of the Borough Council, gave evidence that, while working at the Esplanade oh the date of the alleged offence, lie had heard a man calling out: “Help, help; I am being ribbed.’* Witness proceeded to where the call had come from and fiaw a man running towards the gates. He Wont after him, and, catching up. asked what had happened. The man, who was Howden, had replied that the calling out had been a joke. Witness did not have his hands on him at any time. When witness spoke to Howden t would b® about 1.15 p.m. After leaving him witness met complainant, who. on being asked what had happened, had said that he had beeu robbed. Witness then telephoned for the police and waited with complainant until the police arrived. August Max. another gardener in the employ of the Borough Counoil. deposed that shortly after one o’clock on February 24 he saw a man running out of the Esplanade ga.es. He had later seen the previous witness, complainant, and a fair man. AT NGARUAWAHIA RACES. Constable Peters, stationed at Frankton Junction, gave evidence that he was on duty at tho Ngaruawahia races on February 21, when he had see i Howden and the present accused together. The following day witness had seen the two in company with a fair man at a Frankton hotel, where they were stopping under assumed nameß. From enquiries made witness had ascertained that the three had left Frankton on the 23rd. Sergeant Power depoaed that ho had ascertained that no man named Redfern over had horses or paddocks in Palmerston North. In evidence, Detective Russell stated that, in company with a Wellington detective, he met the TJlimuroa on arrival from Sydney on Tuesday. Gillespie had been seen and told that there was a warant out fror his arrest. On being informed of the nature of the charge, aoou3ed replied that he was no pickpocket. This Concluded the case for ihe police. Asked if he had anything to say, accused .replied in the negative and pleaded not guilty. . He was accordingly committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was not asked for.